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| Pakistan explosion leaves many dead at Lahore park | Pakistan explosion leaves many dead at Lahore park |
| (1 day later) | |
| At least 69 people have been killed and scores injured in an explosion at a public park in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore, officials say. | At least 69 people have been killed and scores injured in an explosion at a public park in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore, officials say. |
| The park was crowded with families, some celebrating Easter. Many victims are said to be women and children. | The park was crowded with families, some celebrating Easter. Many victims are said to be women and children. |
| Police told the BBC it appeared to be a suicide bomb. A Pakistan Taliban faction said it carried out the attack. | Police told the BBC it appeared to be a suicide bomb. A Pakistan Taliban faction said it carried out the attack. |
| Pakistan's president has condemned the blast and the regional government has announced three days of mourning. | Pakistan's president has condemned the blast and the regional government has announced three days of mourning. |
| All the major hospitals in the area were put on an emergency footing after the blast early on Sunday evening. | All the major hospitals in the area were put on an emergency footing after the blast early on Sunday evening. |
| The explosion appears to have been at the main gate to the Gulshan-e-Iqbal park in an area where cars are usually left - and a short distance from the children's swings. | The explosion appears to have been at the main gate to the Gulshan-e-Iqbal park in an area where cars are usually left - and a short distance from the children's swings. |
| One eyewitness said there was chaos, with a stampede starting and children separated from their parents in the rush to escape. | One eyewitness said there was chaos, with a stampede starting and children separated from their parents in the rush to escape. |
| Another man told Pakistan's Geo TV station he was heading towards a fairground ride with his wife and two children when he heard a huge bang and all four of them were thrown to the floor. | Another man told Pakistan's Geo TV station he was heading towards a fairground ride with his wife and two children when he heard a huge bang and all four of them were thrown to the floor. |
| Hasan Imran, 30, a local resident who had gone to the park for a walk told Reuters: "When the blast occurred, the flames were so high they reached above the trees and I saw bodies flying in the air." | Hasan Imran, 30, a local resident who had gone to the park for a walk told Reuters: "When the blast occurred, the flames were so high they reached above the trees and I saw bodies flying in the air." |
| The agency also reported that the army was called in to control crowds outside the park. | The agency also reported that the army was called in to control crowds outside the park. |
| According to Lahore's deputy commissioner, Mohammad Usman, the number of injured was 193. | According to Lahore's deputy commissioner, Mohammad Usman, the number of injured was 193. |
| Facebook has activated its feature for people in Lahore to mark themselves as safe, as news of the blast spread. | Facebook has activated its feature for people in Lahore to mark themselves as safe, as news of the blast spread. |
| Lahore is the capital of Punjab, Pakistan's largest and wealthiest province and the political powerbase of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. | Lahore is the capital of Punjab, Pakistan's largest and wealthiest province and the political powerbase of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. |
| Pakistan Taliban splinter group Jamaat-ul-Ahrar told local and Western media it was behind the attack. | Pakistan Taliban splinter group Jamaat-ul-Ahrar told local and Western media it was behind the attack. |
| "We claim responsibility for the attack on Christians as they were celebrating Easter," spokesperson Ehansullah Ehsan told Pakistan's Express Tribune. | "We claim responsibility for the attack on Christians as they were celebrating Easter," spokesperson Ehansullah Ehsan told Pakistan's Express Tribune. |
| Pakistan has suffered regular incidents of Taliban-related violence, sectarian strife and criminal gang activity. | Pakistan has suffered regular incidents of Taliban-related violence, sectarian strife and criminal gang activity. |
| Meanwhile in the capital, Islamabad, police fired tear gas at thousands of protesters who marched in support of Islamist gunman Mumtaz Qadri, whom they see as a religious hero. | Meanwhile in the capital, Islamabad, police fired tear gas at thousands of protesters who marched in support of Islamist gunman Mumtaz Qadri, whom they see as a religious hero. |
| Qadri was hanged last month for the murder of Punjab governor Salman Taseer five years ago. | Qadri was hanged last month for the murder of Punjab governor Salman Taseer five years ago. |
| Mr Taseer had defended a Christian woman jailed on blasphemy charges. | Mr Taseer had defended a Christian woman jailed on blasphemy charges. |